12.
Disaster
• “A disaster is sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the
functioning of a community or society and causes
human, materiel, and economic or environmental losses that
exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own
resources. Though often caused by nature, disaster can have
human origins”
Vulnerability+ Hazard / Capacity = Disaster
Sources:
EM-DAT Centre for research on the epidemiology of disaster CRED
International Federation Red Cross (IFRC) Website

18.
Complex emergencies
• A complex emergency is typically characterized by:
–
–
–
–
Extensive violence and loss of life;
Displacements of population;
Widespread damage to societies and economies;
The need for large-scale, multi-faceted humanitarian
assistance;
– The hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by
political and military constraints;
– Significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in
some areas.
Source:
EM-DAT Centre for research on the epidemiology of disaster CRED
International Federation Red Cross (IFRC) Website

34.
Amputations
“Increasingly, the responsible humanitarian surgeon will be
required to understand not only surgical principles of
amputations, but also to be mindful of what lies beyond the
operating theatre for each patient”
Consensus Statements Regarding the Multidisciplinary Care of Limb Amputation Patients
in Disasters or Humanitarian Emergencies: Report of the 2011 Humanitarian Action
Summit Surgical Working Group on Amputations Following Disasters or Conflict
L. Knowlton and All
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine: Vol. 26, No. 6 Dec 2011

35.
Take home message
Despite the type, the intensity of the disaster
“Life goes on”